Electromechanical marking device

ABSTRACT

An electrically operated marking device for stamping articles repeatedly with preset characters. Marking of an article is accomplished be placing the marking device in contact with the article with slight pressure to close a switching contact. The closing of switch causes the marking device to apply an impression of the preset characters to the article.

United States Patent 172] Inventors Howard Price 1,986,352 1/ 1935 Moulton 101/93 Kings Point; 2,003,787 6/1935 Lake 101/287 Bela Szilagyi, Flushing, both of N.Y. 2,065,694 12/ 1936 Hatcher. 101/35 X [2]] App]. No. 753,290 2,654,312 10/1953 Phipps 101/35 [22] Filed Aug. 16,1968 2,801,583 8/1957 Loushay 101/108 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 2,950,676 8/1960 Weissman et al.... 101/334 [73] Assignee International Patents 8: Development Corp. 3,174,426 3/1965 Boekeloo et al. 101/42 3,251,299 5/1966 Duke etalv 101/334 3,327,623 6/1967 Diegel 101/111 X 1 1 ELECTROMECHANICAL MARKING DEVICE 3,344,899 10/1967 Wang etal 191/12 5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

Primary ExaminerWill|am B. Penn [52] U.S. Cl 101/108, Anomey spanow and Sparrow 101/42, 101/111, 101/287 [51] lnt.Cl B41j1/20, B41k1/10,B41k H40 [50] Field of Search 101/111, ABSTRACT; A i ll operated marking device for 103, s 42; stamping articles repeatedly with preset characters. Marking 97/12 of an article is accomplished be placing the marking device in [56] References Cited contact with the article with slight pressure to close a switching contact. The closing of switch causes the marklng UNITED STATES PATENTS device to apply an impression of the preset characters to the 1,520,089 12/1924 Scherbius 197/ 12 article.

4 if //4 4 by ;{3 y //!n, -46; a. a; g //3 W /d/@ o l if! 2 IN 5 iyl *3 lo a "r, /z W flfl /d7 i f' #7 #3 //a m "1 //J' #4 -io' /fl/ ELECTROMECIIANICAL MARKING DEVICE CROSS-REFERENCES This application is related to the copending application Ser. No. 828,573.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to marking devices in which the characters to be stamped my be varied at will. I-Ieretofore, preset rubber stamps had to be manually operated when applying repeated stamping operations to a large number of identical articles desired to be stamped. This has particularly, been the case in food markets or super markets where a large. number of articles must be price-marked daily. The present invention overcomes the laborious manual operation of the conventional rubber-stamping devices known in the art, by providing a novel improvement in the form of an electrically operated device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electromechanically operated marking device in which a motor is energized by the closing of a switch actuated when= the marking device is placed upon the article to be marked. The operation of the motor imparts translatory motion to a carriage which moves preset characters in contact with the article to be marked. An inking roller operated through the action of the carriage applies ink to the characters prior to every impression to be made by them. A novel inking arrangement assures that the proper amount of ink is applied to the printing characters. An interchangeable handle is provided with the marking device for containing battery cells used in the operation of the motor. During operation of the marking device, the battery cells are connected in parallel, whereas they are connected in series when being recharged. The interchangeable handle is designed so that different numbers of battery cells may be readily used in operation. Interchangeability of the handle allows continuous operation of the marking device. The duration of the motor operation is controlled through a'- novel arrangement of cam-operated switches. The cams are mounted on a shaft which determines the motion of the carriage in applying the printing character to the article being. marked.

Various further and more specific purposes, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and illustrated merely by way of examples, embodiments of the device of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the following description and in the claims; parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but such names are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing, in which FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the marking device as it appears on the surface, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1 and shows the internal assembly of the marking device;

FIG. 2a is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the handle from that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier and associated mechanism for the operation thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view similar FIG. 4 of the carrier and associated mechanism when in the marking position;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 66 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram and shows the electrical control of the marking device;

FIG. 8 is a layout diagram of electrical contact arrangements for adapting different numbers of battery cells to charging and use in the marking device;

. FIG. 9 is a side view and shows the assembly of the handle of the marking device and a battery charger;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 10 !0 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, the marking device 100, in accordance with the present invention, has a housing 101 which is recessed at one end to accommodate a handle 102. The internal wall of the recess 101a is internally threaded to receive a corresponding threaded portion 1020 on the handle 102. A slidable carriage or carrier 103 is arranged within the housing 101, and has mounted upon it a plurality of endless elastic bands in juxtapose position. The bands 105 are provided with characters 104 made of suitable material as, for example, rubber. The characters carried upon the bands 105 are reversed so that they print positive characters on the articles to be marked with the device. Post 106 and shaft 107 extend laterally into tracks 108, within the housing 101, for the purpose of guiding the carriage or carrier 103 in straight-lined motion.

Shaft 107 carried knurled wheels 109 arranged parallel to each other in spaced relation. Each wheel has a hub 110 over which a band 105 is trained in the conventional manner. The bands are further trained over a bar 111. A saddle 112 is mounted on the shaft 107. A centrally disposed bar 113 extends from the saddle 112. Bar 111 is transversely arranged and supported by lateral arms 114 which are mounted on the shaft 107. An arm 115 fixed to a shaft 116, is rotatably connected to the bar extension 113, through means of the pin 117. A worm gear 118 secured to the shaft 116, is driven by a worm 1-19 mounted upon the shaft 120 of a motor 121. The motor 121 is operated through a battery 128, preferably of the rechargeable type. A lever arm 122 is also fixed or secured to the shaft 116, and has attached to it one end of a helical spring 123. The other end of the spring 123 is anchored to a fixed support. A ratchet wheel 124 is also secured or fixed to the shaft 116. Apawl 125 is mounted swivably on the worm gear 118, and meshes with the ratchet wheel 124. Thus, when the motor 121 rotates, shaft 120 and worm 119 rotate the worm gear 118. As a result shaft 116 is also rotated. With the rotation of shaft 116, the lever 122 is also displaced angularly and thereby cause the expansion of the spring 123. With the rotation of the arm 115, at the same time, reciprocal motion is imparted to the bar extension 113, and therefore to the carriage 103, pulling the latter to its retracted position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When this position of the attained, the switch 126 is actuated and the motor 121 is stopped.

The switch 126 has two spring contacts 126a and 126k. The spring contacts cooperate with a cam 129 having high and low sections through its angular motion. Thus, when the spring contact 126a is not in contact with the surface of the cam 129, as shown in the drawing. the circuit associated with this particular spring contact is open. When, on the other hand, the cam rises 129' passes underneath the spring contact 126a, a circuit closure is established for the spring contact. These same structural conditions apply to the spring contact l26b. The cam 129 is made of conductive material so that when both spring contacts are actuated by high sections under cam, at the same time, an electric circuit may be completed through the spring contacts 126a and 126b. Thus, is a potential were applied to the spring contact 126a, and both spring contacts were actuated through cam risers 129', this same voltage potential would appear at the spring contact 126b, and the switch 126 would be designated as being closed, If, on the other hand, one of the springs as, for example, 126a is not in contact with the cam 129, as shown in the drawing, the switch 126 is in the open state because current cannot flow from the spring contact 126a, through the cam 129, and'out of the spring contact 126b. It may be see, therefore, that the cam 129 serves as a shorting element which shorts the spring contact and establishes circuit closure for a particular angular disposition of the cam. The high sections of the cam 129' are arranged so that the switch 126 is normally closed. During this state of the switch, the motor is being operated. When the cam 129 has rotated to a predetermined position in which one of the spring contacts are not in electrical contact with the cam, the motor is disconnected from the battery 128. The cam 129 is mounted upon the shaft 116, and actuates the the switch 126 directly. When the angular rotation of the shaft 116 and hence cam 129 has been attained, so that the motor is stopped by interrupting its circuit leading to the battery 128, the spring 123 is under tension. counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 116 resulting from the tension in spring 123, is prevented through the action of the ratchet 124 and the pawl 125. The device is now set or in the state for operation.

The front end 130 of the housing 101 is open and is surrounded by a frame 131. A second switch 132 is located within the housing and in the vicinity of the opening of or front end 130. The switch 132 has two spring contacts 132a and 132b. The spring contact 132a has an angled arm which protrudes beyond the front face of the marking device. The spring contact 132a is fixed at one end 132e, to the housing 101. The spring contact 132b is similarily fixed at one end to the housing 101. The spring contacts 132a and 132b are arranged to cooperate with each other, so that when slight pressure is applied to the protruding angled arm of the spring contact 132a, the latter is moved into electrical contact with the spring 132b, and thereby establishes circuit closure for the switch 132. Whenany pressure applied to the spring contact 132a, in this manner, is released, the latter moves away from the spring contact 132b, and thereby interrupts the electrical circuit through the spring contacts. As a result, the switch 132 is in the open state.

An inking roller 137 is pivotably mounted upon an arm 138, through means of the pin 139. The arm-shaped lever 138 is itself rotatably mounted upon a pin 140. A spring 141 has one end attached to the arm-shaped lever 138, and one end to a fixed portion 142 of the housing 101. The spring 141 is tensioned so that the lever 138 and hence the inking roller 137 are in the position shown in the drawing, when the carriage 103 is in the retracted state or position. An inking wick or pad 148 is retained within a reservoir shaped in the form of a compartment from the housing 101. The inking wick or pad 148 applies ink to the inking roller 137 when the latter is dipped into the wick when in the position shown by the phantom lines in the drawing. The ink is supplied by a cartridge 143 located in an accessible manner within the housing 101. The cartridge 143 is of the disposable type, in that it may be discarded when the ink within the cartridge has been exhausted. When replacing the cartridge 143, the door 144 hinged to the housing by means of the pivot 144a is swung open. When using the device in normal operation, the door or flap 144 is closed and flush with the exterior surface of the housing 101. The cartridge 143 has an opening 147 leading into a reservoir or cavity 146. A duct or passage 145 within the housing wall 101 communicates with the reservoir 146 and the wick 148. When the marking device 100 is operated, ink flows by gravity from the cartridge 143 to the wick 148, through the action of gravity. As a result, the wick 148 is continuously maintained moist with ink. At the same time, excess ink within the wick is avoided, for once the wick is sufficiently moist, ink will cease to flow from the cartridge 143, in view of the relatively narrow dimension of the passage 145. When the carriage 143 is moved forward for the purpose of carrying out a marking operation, the pin 160 upon the arm 114 bears against the lever 138 and forces the latter to pivot about the pin 140. Thus, when the carriage 103 moves forward, the pin 160 rides along the surface 138a, and this action results in angular rotation of the lever 138, which in turn causes the inking roller 137 to dip into the wick 148. When the inking roller is thus dipped into the wick 148, the roller is also out of the way of the marking characters 104 which may now move forward to carry out the desired marking operation. When the carriage 103 is again retracted at the end of the marking operation, the spring 141 returns the lever 138 to its initial position shown by the solid lines in the drawing. While returning to this initial position, the inking roller 137 contacts the characters 104 and applies into them in preparation for the next marking operation.

Each of the bands is operated by a knurled wheel 109 which protrudes through suitable slots 148 in housing 101. Wheels 109 are preferably arranged so that they do not protrude above the top plane of the housing 101. This design prevents accidental movement of the wheels.

The handle 102 serves as the enclosure for the batteries 128 used to operate the motor 121. Depending upon the design of the motor, two or three battery cells may be used. At the same time, these batteries may be interconnected in different manner to apply different voltages suitable to a particular motor design. The batteries are preferably of the rechargeable type to allow for their continuous reuse. The handle 102 is threadably secured to the housing 101, to permit interchanging of different handles with different batteriespAs a result of this feature, one set of batteries in one handle may be recharged, while another set of batteries which have been recharged may be placed into service by securing the handle 102 to the housing 101. In this manner, the marking device 100 may be continuously operated, without the incurrence of interruption during which the batteries are charged. This feature is particularly attractive, since the charging time of batteries may be of considerable duration.

In FIG. 2, three battery cells A, B and C are shown. InFIG. 2a only two battery cells A and B are shown within the handle 102. Each battery cell is normally of 1.5 bolt-type. The operation of the marking device, in accordance with the present invention, however does not depend upon the battery cells having a particular voltage rating. Batteries of any voltage rating can be directly applied to the use of the marking device as disclosed. If the motor 121 is designed to operate 1.5 volts are applied across its terminals, then it is desirable to operate the batteries in parallel, regardless of the number of battery cells being used, since each cell is normally rated at 1.5 bolts. To permit the interconnection of the battery cells for such parallel operation, even though the batteries are situated end-to end within the handle 102, a contact plate is secured at the end of the handle 102 admitted into the housing 101. The contact plate 170 has a contact distributed about it leading to the terminals of the individual battery cells. The layout of the contact plate 170 is shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b. FIG. 8a shows the layout of the contact plate 170 when three battery cells are used. In the diagram, the positive and negative terminals of the battery cell A, for example, are denoted by +A and A, respectively. The other two battery cells, corresponding to the configuration of FIG. 2, are similarily denoted in FIG. 8a. FIG. 8b shows the contact arrangement on the plate 170 when only two battery cells are used, corresponding to the configuration of FIG. 2a.

When it is desired to charge the battery cells, the handle 102 is removed from the housing 101 and inserted into a charger 172 shown in FIG. 9. The battery charger 172 is of the conventional type, in that it usually includes a transformer which steps down the voltage obtainable from a utility outlet, to a level suitable for charging batteries. To avoid charging resistors, it is desirable to charge the batteries in series, even though they may be operated in parallel. For this reason the contact plate 171 is provided within the charger 172, and is adapted to engage to contact plate 170, when the handle 102 is threadably inserted into the charging unit 172. The insertion of the handle 102 into the charging 172 is similar to the insertion of the handle into the housing of the marking device. FIGS. 80 and 8d show the contact layout of the contact plate 171, when using three battery cells and two battery cells respectively. When using three battery cells, the contact plate of FIG. 80 in the charger 172, is an electrical contact with the plate shown in FIG. 80. Under this condition, the negative terminal of battery A and the positive terminal of battery C are connected to each other through the conducting shorting strip 173 on the plate 171. The strip or segment 173 is in the form of a conductive layer, serving as a bridging contact for the two terminals of the cells A and C. Conductive layers 174 are similarly provided on the plate 171 for the remaining terminals of the three battery cells being used. It is seen furthermore, that the positive terminal of the Battery and the negative terminal of the battery cell are connected to each other through the conductor 175 which may be a deposited layer of conducting material upon the plate 171, "rt-0.450 and 0.455 volts from the charger 172 are applied to the positive and negative terminals of the batteries A and B, respectively, the three battery cells will be charged in series. FIG. 8b shows the i arrangement of the contact plate 171 when only two battery cells A and B are used. in this event, the contact segment 176 shorts the positive and negative terminals of the cells B and A, respectively, and hence, the two battery cells are similarly charged in series when +3 and 3 volts are applied to the positive and negative terminals of cells A and B, respectively. FIGS. 8e and 8f show the arrangement of the contact plate 177 within the housing 101 for connecting all battery cells in parallel to operate the motor. The contact plate 177 which is in electrical contact with the plate 170 when the handle is threadably inserted into the housing 101, is provided with 2 conductive segments 178 and 179. In FIG. 82 it may be seen that when three battery cells are used, corresponding to the arrangement of FIG. 2 all three positive terminals of the three cells are connected together through the shorting segment 178. At the same time, all negative terminals of the three cells are also connected together by the conductive segment 179. The segments 178 and 179 serve as electrical contacts and are constructed similar to that described in relation to the contacts 173 and 174. By connecting the three positive terminals together and the three negative terminals together as shown in FIG. 8e, and +1.50 and l .50 volts are available at the segments 178 and 179. These segments or contacts are connected directly to the terminals of the motor, and therefore the motor is supplied with the proper voltage. FIG. 8f shows the layout of the contact 177 corresponding to FIG. 2a, when only two battery cells are used. Under this condition the two positive terminals and the two negative terminals are similarly connected together, so that the batteries are connected in parallel. it may be seen, that the contact plate 177 is of the same design for operation with two battery cells or three battery cells. Accordingly, it is not necessary to change to contact plate 177 when changing from three-cell operation to two-cell operation.

For the selection of characters 104, in operation, switch 180 is closed permitting current flow to the motor 121, since the switch is normally closed, Worm gear 118 is thus rotated, which in turn rotates shaft 116, As a result lever arm 122 moves clockwise over dead center with relation to spring 123, permitting the latter to contract. This hastens rotation of the shaft 116 and results in a positive moment or kick to be imparted to the carriage 103, through are 115 and extension 113. The portion of the cam 129 cooperating with the switch 126a has its high point 180 displaced from the high point of the cam portion cooperating with the spring contact 1261:. Thus, after movement of the carriage 103 to its furthest protracted" position, the switch 126 is in its open state and, accordingly, the motor 121 is deenergized. Carriage 103 is now in the position wherein the characters 104 are at the front of the housing 101. The characters to be marked on an article are set by moving the wheels 109 into the proper and corresponding angular position.

Upon positioning the marking device 100 onto the article to be marked, a slight downward pressure causes the spring contact 13211 to engage the spring contact 13,2b and hence close the switch 132. As a result, the motor 121 is energized. Worm gear 118 is thereby rotated, and, in turn, rotates shaft 116.

Lever arm 122' moves clockwise over dead center in relation to spring 123 and permits the latter to contract. This action hastens rotation of shaft 116 which, in turn, imparts a positive moment or kick" to carriage 103, through arm and extension 113. Through rotation of the cam 129, the switch 126 becomes closed. The motor is thereby maintained energized even though the device is removed from the article and the switch 132 is open. This results from the condition that .the switches 126 and 132 are connected in parallel, and the motor circuit is closed as long as one of the two switches are closed. With the motor operating after the stamping operation, continued rotation is applied to the shaft 116, resulting in the retraction of the carriage 103 through the arm 115 and extension 113. Lever arm 122 is also rotated and this places the spring 123 under tension. The device is now reset for repeat marking of the same characters.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to certain preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the principle of the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing form the spiritand scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromechanical marking device comprising, in combination, a housing open at one end; a handle secured to the other end of said housing; battery means within said handle; guide means longitudinally movable in said housing and guided by said guide means; a plurality of bands adjustably disposed on said carrier in side-by-side relationship, said bands carrying characters for printing, said carrier means being longitudinally movable between an operative printing position and an inoperative retracted position, said carrier means being in said operative printing position when in proximity of said open end of said housing; motor means within said housing and electrically connected to said battery means; ratchet means connecting said carrier means to the shaft of said motor means, said shaft executing rotational motion during operation of said motor means and driving said ratchet means; spring means connected to said ratchet means and tensioned by said ratchet means when said ratchet means is driven by said motor means to drive said carrier means from said operative printing position to said inoperative retracted position, said characters for printing projecting through said open end of said housing when in said operative printing position; first switch means at said open end of said housing connected between said motor means and said battery means, said first switch means closing the circuit from said battery means to said motor means upon actuation through contact with a surface to be marked with said marking device; second switch means connected in parallel with said first switch means, cam means linked to said ratchet means and actuating said second switch means when said carrier means is in said retracted inoperative position, said cam means being driven by said ratchet means, said ratchet means releasing said spring means for moving said carrier means form said retracted position to said operative printing position upon actuation of said first switch means, said carrier means remaining at said retracted position after turn thereto upon actuation of said second switch means, said second switch means having two spring contacts mounted adjacent to each other and cooperating with said cam means, said second switch means being closed when said cam means is in contact with both said spring contacts simultaneously, and said second switch means being open when only onespring contact is in contact with said cam means.

2. The electromechanical marking device as defined in claim 1 said battery means comprising a plurality of cells, electrical contact means connected to said motor means and said cells for operating said cells in parallel circuit connection.

3. The electromechanical marking device as defined in claim 3 including battery charging means and charging contact means for chargingsaid cells in series circuit connection.

prising ink reservoir means for retaining a predetermined quantity of printing ink, ink roller means actuated by said carrier means and dipped into said reservoir means to become coated with ink, said roller applying ink to said characters after dipping into said reservoir; and ink storage means communicating with said reservoir means and maintaining said reservoir means filled with ink. 

1. An electromechanical marking device comprising, in combination, a housing open at one end; a handle secured to the other end of said housing; battery means within said handle; guide means longitudinally disposed in said housing; carrier means longitudinally movable in said housing and guided by said guide means; a plurality of bands adjustably disposed on said carrier in side-by-side relationship, said bands carrying characters for printing, said carrier means being longitudinally movable between an operative printing position and an inoperative retracted position, said carrier means being in said operative printing position when in proximity of said open end of said housing; motor means within said housing and electrically connected to said battery means; ratchet means connecting said carrier means to the shaft of said motor means, said shaft executing rotational motion during operation of said motor means and driving said ratchet means; spring means connected to said ratchet means and tensioned by said ratchet means when said ratchet means is driven by said motor means to drive said carrier means from said operative printing position to said inoperative retracted position, said characters for printing projecting through said open end of said housing when in said operative printing position; first switch means at said open end of said housing connected between said motor means and said battery means, said first switch means closing the circuit from said battery means to said motor means upon actuation through contact with a surface to be marked with said marking device; second switch means connected in parallel with said first switch means, cam means linked to said ratchet means and actuating said second switch means when said carrier means is in said retracted inoperative position, said cam means being driven by said ratchet means, said ratchet means releasing said spring means for moving said carrier means form said retracted position to said operative printing position upon actuation of said first switch means, said carrier means remaining at said retracted position after return thereto upon actuation of said second switch means, said second switch means having two spring contacts mounted adjacent to each other and cooperating with said cam means, said second switch means being closed when said cam means is in contact with both said spring contacts simultaneously, and said second switch means being open when only one spring contact is in contact with said cam means.
 2. The electromechanical marking device as defined in claim 1 said battery means comprising a plurality of cells, electrical contact means connected to said motor means and said cells for operating said cells in parallel circuit connection.
 3. The electromechanical marking device as defined in claim 3 including battery charging means and charging contact means for charging said cells in series circuit connection.
 4. The marking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first switch means comprises further a movable spring contact having an angled arm extending from said open end of said housing for contacting said surface to be marked; and a fixed spring contact against which said movable contact bears when pressure is applied to said angled arm by said surface.
 5. The electromechanical marking device as defined in claim 1, inking means for applying printing ink to said characters prior to printing on said surface, said inking means comprising ink reservoir means for retaining a predetermined quantity of printing ink; ink roller means actuated by said carrier means and dipped into said reservoir means to become coated with ink, said roller applying ink to said characters after dipping into said reservoir; and ink storage means communicating with said reservoir means and maintaining said reservoir means filled with ink. 